Family wants plastic pen tops banned?

Question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/7042945.stm

do you agree with the wanted ban

Answer 1

A few years ago they started to put air holes in pen tops when they realised they were a choking hazard, these are supposed to let air through if they get breathed in to your windpipe.

Obviously in this case this didn't happen and although it's a personal tragedy for this family I think these incidents are few and far between nowdays and people are much more aware of choking hazards with children.

Maybe they could ban these lids on pens specifically marketed at children but a lot of kids pens these days work on a click in and out mechanism anyway.

I have to say that probably cars and alcohol would be higher up on my list of child killing objects.

Bless the family for trying though, this must be terrible for them.

Answer 2

No. It's ridiculous. Then we would have to ban all non-food objects that could possibly be swallowed. People should know better than to put these things in their mouths. If people have the habit of chewing on pen caps maybe they should buy the kind that don't have caps. They should get the ones that have a button on the end that retracts the writing end. But then someday someone will swallow the whole pen and they will want to ban pens altogether.

Answer 3

Sorry but I disagree.
It was a tragic accident, but ANY object can turn deadly or be injurious if it's handled inappropriately.
People are careless, and the rest of us have to pay for their mistakes. There's a reason why, say, blowdryers have that ridiculous warning on them: "Do not use while sleeping". Someone was stupid enough, evidently, to have done so.
I used to have a lawn tractor that could mow in reverse, then at some point someone was careless enough to back over his kid on his own tractor, and now all the tractors have "safeguards" that prevent them from engaging the blade when the tractor's in reverse. I think it's pathetic that all of us have to pay for other peoples' idiocy. A little good, attentive parenting goes a long way.
And with that logic, why don't we just go ahead and ban automobiles...

Answer 4

This is not the first child to die from swallowing and choking on a pen top.

I thought that was why they started to put a hole in the lid of pen tops and that all pen-tops had them now. Obviously not.

If the manufacturers just adapted their machines, I'm sure pen tops would be much safer; there would be no need for a ban.

Answer 5

They should have a small hole in the top, imo. However from the story it seems the lid did have a safety hole and it still happened. Most of the pens I use are of the click top variety.

I think this case is a tragic accident, but as Stormy says, it could happen with many objects.

Answer 6

Although I feel sympathy with them, pens need tops or they draw all over the inside of your handbag, and you need to weigh up how many children have succesfully used pens and not choked.
I know a girl that choked on sausage but you cant ban everything people choke on.

Answer 7

When i was young this used to happen a lot. That's why they put airholes in them. To be honest i don't see the point of having loose tops on pens . I wouldn't buy them for my kids as they always chew pen ends when concentrating. I think they should remove them from the market besides there are plenty of all in one pens anyway.

Answer 8

No - people choke to death on lots of different things. Pen tops serve a purpose. May be a re-design may be in order. I do have every sympathy for the family of the boy that died though.

Answer 9

Well I can understand their feelings, however I think a re-design might be best and I am sure the manufacturer's would look at this in the future.

You cannot keep all people, safe all the time! It is just not possible. Accidents will happen now and in the future.

Answer 10

Pen tops are a worry when you have small children but I don't think they should be banned - maybe just redesigned

xx